Employment Schemes

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people from the work-related activity group of employment and support allowance have been (a) referred to the Work programme and (b) attached to the Work programme since June 2011.

Chris Grayling: The number of Work programme referrals and attachments from the work related activity group of employment and support allowance from 1 June 2011 to 31 January 2012 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Customer group Referrals Attachments 
			 ESA work related activity group 47,880 40,120 
		
	
	
		
			 Notes: 1. Figures are cumulative and rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Referrals shown are ‘net’ referrals which do not include rejections, cancellations or referrals to ESA information sessions. 3. Attachments: The date of the first engagement activity between the provider and the participant as recorded on the payment administrative system. 4. Customer groups are assigned by Jobcentre Plus, on the basis of a claimant's circumstances, and benefit they receive. A small number of claimants appear in an incorrect group caused by the way information is recorded on the administrative system. More detailed information can be found at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wp-pg-chapter-2.pdf Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate (IGS)

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether (a) in-work credit, (b) return to work credit, (c) housing benefit run-on and (d) job grants will be factored into the amounts protected under transitional protection on implementation of universal credit.

Chris Grayling: As announced by the Minister for Disabled People, my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), in her written statement of 12 July 2012, Official Report, columns 65-66WS, on in-work credit, return to work credit and job grant will start to be phased out for new benefit claimants from October 2012.
	Transitional protection in universal credit will apply to claimants where there has been no change of circumstances and the Department chooses to transfer a household from legacy benefits to universal credit. We expect this process to commence from autumn 2014. The majority of payments of in-work credit, return to work credit and job grant, should have come to an end before this point.
	Housing benefit run-on will continue to be available for as long as housing benefit remains in payment in the transition to universal credit.
	Further details on the provision of transitional protection in universal credit, including how it will be affected by a receipt of in-work credit, return to work credit, job grant or housing benefit run-on, will be provided in the autumn.

Mobile Phones: Fees and Charges

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if he will assess the financial effect of harmonising mobile roaming charges on the domestic mobile phone industry;
	(2)  if his Department will assess the feasibility of setting up an all-Ireland tariff for mobile and land line telephone calls.

Edward Vaizey: Mobile roaming charges are subject to European regulation and the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has no powers in regard to these; therefore, there are no plans to conduct an assessment of the financial effect of harmonising or the feasibility of setting up an all-Ireland tariff for mobile and land line telephone calls. Monitoring and enforcement of the roaming regulations is carried out by national regulatory authorities (in this case Ofcom and ComReg).
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is aware that certain operators have taken measures to reduce the impact on consumers of roaming charges, and particularly charges associated with inadvertent roaming, along the Irish border by (for example) introducing an “all Ireland” tariff for consumers south of the border.
	Roaming charges will continue to reduce significantly as the downward glide path of the price caps contained in the new European Roaming III Regulation, (which came into effect on 1 July 2012) bring roaming charges much closer to those incurred when using mobile networks at home. In addition we expect that the new measures on structural solutions contained in the regulation, designed to encourage increased and sport competition in the mobile roaming market, will bring about mobile roaming costs significantly below the price caps contained in the regulation.

Ofcom

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the full-time equivalent headcount of Ofcom was, by department, in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13.

Edward Vaizey: The information requested has been provided by Ofcom and is set out in the following tables:
	
		
			 FTE per groups/departments—2009 
			 Groups/departments Permanent staff External staff Total 
			 Content, International and Regulatory 73 1 74 
			 CEO 3 — 3 
			 Competition Policy 125 4 129 
			 Communications and Public Affairs 17 — 17 
			 Legal, International, Nations, Regions and Secretariat 108 — 108 
			 Operations Group 323 25 348 
		
	
	
		
			 Panel and Boards — 83 83 
			 Strategy and Market Developments 109 — 109 
			 Spectrum Policy Group 124 5 129 
			 Technology 6 — 6 
			 Grand total FTE 888 118 1,006 
		
	
	
		
			 FTE per groups/departments—2010 
			 Groups/departments Permanent staff External staff Total 
			 Communications and Public Affairs 19 — 19 
			 Competition Policy 124 3 127 
			 Content, International and Regulatory 87 1 88 
			 Legal, International, Nations, Regions and Secretariat 86 2 88 
			 Operations Group 312 28 340 
			 Panel and Boards — 72 72 
			 Spectrum Policy Group 123 4 127 
			 Strategy and Market Developments 102 4 106 
			 Strategy Chief Economist and Technology 6 4 10 
			 Grand total FTE 859 118 977 
		
	
	
		
			 FTE per groups/departments—2011 
			 Groups/departments Permanent staff External staff Total 
			 Competition Policy 111 3 114 
			 Consumer Group 67 4 71 
			 Content, International and Regulatory 132 1 133 
			 Lawyers 43 — 43 
			 Operations Group 281 45 326 
			 Panel and Boards — 61 61 
			 Spectrum Clearance and Award Programme 2 — 2 
			 Spectrum Policy Group 99 7 106 
			 Strategy Chief Economist and Technology 32 4 36 
			 Grand total FTE 767 125 892 
		
	
	
		
			 FTE per groups/departments—2012 
			 Groups/departments Permanent staff External staff Total 
			 Competition Group 125 3 128 
			 Consumer Group 71 6 77 
			 Content, international and Regulatory 138 5 143 
			 Lawyers 40 — 40 
			 Operations Group 295 56 351 
			 Panel and Boards — 62 62 
			 Spectrum Clearance and Award Programme 14 — 14 
			 Spectrum Policy Group 94 8 102 
			 Strategy Chief Economist and Technology 40 4 44 
			 Grand total FTE 817 144 961

Olympic Games 2012: Kent

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many athletes from (a) Dartford constituency and (b) Kent have been selected to represent Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.

Hugh Robertson: The responsibility for the selection of athletes for the London 2012 Olympic games, that comprise Team GB, rests with the British Olympic Association (BOA), which is independent of Government.
	Team GB in London 2012 will consist of 542 athletes, of which, 435 are receiving public funding support from UK Sport, the Department’s strategic lead body for performance sport in the UK. Of the 435 publicly funded athletes, UK Sport has advised that seven athletes currently reside in Kent, four of which are in the Dartford constituency.

Sports: VAT

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the introduction of VAT on income from the hire of all-weather sports facilities; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: No specific discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne) on the introduction of VAT on income from the hire of all-weather sports facilities. However, I have written to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for South West Hertfordshire (Mr Gauke), about the VAT treatment of commercially operated sports leagues, which would include the operation of all-weather sports facilities.

Subtitling

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the compliance of (a) the BBC, (b) ITV and (c) Channel 4 with their requirements in respect of the subtitling of programmes.

Edward Vaizey: The BBC, Channel 3 licensees and Channel 4 must comply with Ofcom's code relating to the provision of services for the deaf and visually impaired, known as the Code on Television Access Services.
	Ofcom monitors compliance with the code. In 2011, Ofcom reported that the provision of access services (subtitling, sighing, and audio description) by broadcasters under the Code on Television Access Services, shows that, the BBC had six channels which narrowly missed their 100% subtitling quota by less than 0.2% due to technical and operational outages. Channel 3 licensees and Channel 4 exceeded their quota targets of 90% by broadcasting 98.7% and 99.95% respectively of their programmes with subtitling.
	The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has made no recent assessment of compliance, however, the broader communications review process, and the ongoing e-Accessibility forum being run by his Department are opportunities for any issues in this important area to be raised and, where appropriate, addressed.

Subtitling

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the effect of the time taken to publish the Communications Green Paper on subtitling for the deaf.

Edward Vaizey: The Government is considering a range of issues as part of its Communications Review and where necessary it is our intention to legislate in this Parliament. The decision not to publish a Green Paper does not affect this timetable. There are existing statutory requirements on broadcasters to provide subtitling and we are inviting views as to whether and how the current arrangements on subtitling, and wider accessibility measures, can be improved.

VisitEngland

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many staff Visit England employs in (a) Yorkshire and Humber, (b) London and the South East and (c) total.

John Penrose: The Department does not collate this information. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of VisitEngland to write directly to my hon. Friend with this information.
	Copies of the responses will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

VisitEngland

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what guidance Visit England provides to tourist attractions on developing their business.

John Penrose: VisitEngland is working closely with local areas and destinations, in line with Government's localism agenda, to grow the value of local tourism economies. This is co-ordinated through the National Strategic Framework for Tourism, which includes an action programme developed in consultation with the tourism sector. VisitEngland is currently working with local areas on a campaign to deliver economic growth from the domestic market, and to support employment and job creation.
	VisitEngland's Accreditation and Assessment Schemes, including the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS) and the National Accessible Scheme (NAS), help tourism businesses improve and promote their quality, as well as their accessibility and sustainability. Information on these schemes can be found on VisitEngland's website:
	http://www.visitengland.org/busdev/accreditation/index.aspx
	VAQAS uses a network of regional assessors to help to instigate, modify and shape change to the customer experience at visitor attractions across England. NAS is the only scheme that rates the accessibility of visitor accommodation throughout England. The NAS helps accommodation operators improve and promote their true level of accessibility.
	VisitEngland also offers an extensive range of business support tools and resources, including the Accommodation Know How website, Quality Edge magazine, and Access Statement and Green Start tools, which provide advice on best practice and developing business.

Banks

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  when he was first advised that the Crown Office and Prosecution Service was conducting investigations into banking conduct in Scotland;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Crown Office and Prosecution Service in Scotland on its investigation into banking in Scotland;
	(3)  whether (a) he and (b) his officials have met the Crown Office and Prosecution Service to discuss its investigation into banking conduct;
	(4)  what discussions he and his officials have had with the US Department of Justice and the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission on inquiries into banking in Scotland;
	(5)  what discussions he has had with (a) the Director of Public Prosecutions and (b) the Attorney-General for England and Wales on inquiries into banking conduct;
	(6)  what discussions he and his officials have had with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in the Scottish Government on the inquiry into banking conduct;
	(7)  what discussions he has had with the Lord Advocate on the investigations by the Crown Office and Prosecution Service into banking conduct in Scotland.

Dominic Grieve: The Law Officers and their officials have regular contact with a wide range of authorities including criminal justice partners in Scotland, and discuss a range of issues of mutual interest. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.
	The Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced on 6 July that the SFO have opened an investigation into allegations of criminal conduct relating to LIBOR and will provide further information in due course.

Crimes of Violence: Females

Stella Creasy: To ask the Attorney-General what categories of data are recorded in the Crown Prosecution Service Case Management System and associated Management Information System on monitoring the management of offences involving violence against women and girls.

Dominic Grieve: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record, through its Case Management System, of defendant proceedings involving offences of Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) by way of a series of monitoring flags. These include flags for domestic violence, rape, sexual offences, human trafficking, child abuse, so called 'honour crime' and forced marriage. It is important to note that the monitoring flags are used for victim care and case management purposes. They are therefore entered at the outset of proceedings and remain on the system for the life of the case regardless of any changes made to the charge or indictment. All Official Statistics for the Criminal Justice System are provided by the Ministry of Justice
	In addition, the CPS monitors the volume of offences charged and reaching a first hearing in magistrates courts for offences of harassment, prostitution, female genital mutilation, pornography and obscenity. These data are published annually in the CPS VAWG Crime Report available on the CPS website at
	http://www.cps.gov.uk/data/violence_against_women/vaw_2010_11_report.html

Antisocial Behaviour: Young People

David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to tackle youth anti-social behaviour.

James Brokenshire: The majority of our young people are law-abiding members of their communities, but a minority engage in antisocial and criminal behaviour that makes victims' lives a misery. The Government's recent White Paper, 'Putting victims first', sets out our plans to support the police and their local partners to protect victims and communities, including by introducing faster, more effective powers to deal with the problem and taking action to deal with underlying drivers such as problem drinking and illicit drug use.

Domestic Violence: Young People

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on training teachers to (a) teach on issues relating to and (b) identify young people who may be affected by domestic violence.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government is committed to tackling domestic violence and we will always consider what more can be done to identify and safeguard victims. Discussions at a ministerial level are ongoing via the Inter-Ministerial Group on Violence Against Women and Girls.

Drugs: Decriminalisation

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the effects of drug decriminalisation in Portugal; and what recent discussions (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have had with their Portuguese counterparts on drug policy;
	(2)  what recent discussions she has had with her international counterparts on the (a) legalisation and regulation governing and (b) decriminalisation of controlled substances.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 13 July 2012
	The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has not discussed the legalisation, regulation governing or decriminalisation of controlled substances with international counterparts. The Home Office has not assessed the effects of drug decriminalisation in Portugal, nor have Home Office Ministers discussed drug policy with Portuguese counterparts.

Gender Recognition

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date her Department issued its call for evidence on the actions included in its transgender equality action plan; if she will place in the library a copy of each of the items of evidence submitted; what steps the Government proposes to take in response to those submissions; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 13 July 2012
	In 'Advancing Transgender Equality: A Plan for Action', the first Government action plan for transgender equality, the Government committed to launching a Call for Evidence on the commitments detailed within the action plan. This will allow anyone with an interest in transgender equality to let the Government know their views and insights on the progress that is being made to deliver the actions, how they might be implemented differently, or more effectively. This will help inform future Government policy on transgender equality.
	The Call for Evidence has not yet been launched, as Government Departments continue to implement their commitments in the action plan. The Government will publish the Call for Evidence in due course, together with an update on progress on the delivery of the commitments included. Copies of these documents will be placed in the House Library once available.

Gender Recognition

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when the Government intends to bring forward legislative proposals to address the issues identified in its transgender equality plan for action;
	(2)  what information her Department holds on initiatives taken to date by public bodies, businesses, practitioners and the voluntary sector to implement the commitments set out in the Government's transgender equality plan for action.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 13 July 2012
	: “Advancing Transgender Equality: A Plan for Action”, the first action plan for transgender equality was published in December 2011 and placed in the House Library. It includes a range of largely non-legislative measures to improve the lives of transgender people in a number of areas of public policy, including hate crime, health, education and employment.
	A number of those commitments have already been delivered, including the publication on 14 March 2012 of “Challenge It, Report It, Stop It”, the cross-government action plan to tackle all forms of hate crime; active engagement with representatives from the transgender community during the Government's consultation on equal civil marriage, which closed on 14 June 2012; and a landmark conference which I hosted on combating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity as part of the UK Chairmanship of the Council of Europe.
	The action plan made one commitment to introduce legislation, namely to amend section 146 and schedule 21 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. This amendment, included in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Rehabilitation of Offenders Act which received Royal Assent on 1 May 2012, provides for sentences to be aggravated for any offence motivated by hostility towards the victim on the grounds of being transgender, and for a 30-year starting point for murders motivated by hostility towards the victim on the grounds of being transgender. The Government expects to commence these provisions by the end of the year.

Offences Against Children: Internet

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have had with ministerial colleagues on the protection of children online.

Lynne Featherstone: The Minister for Crime and Security, the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (James Brokenshire), met the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, Department for Education, the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton), at least quarterly during 2010 and until autumn 2011 to discuss online child protection issues as they co-chaired the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) executive board. When Mr Brokenshire's child internet safety responsibilities, including co-chair of UKCCIS, transferred to me, I continued to meet the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) at UKCCIS executive board meetings.
	The Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, the hon. Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey), is also a member of the UKCCIS executive board and I met him when he attended the board in February 2012.
	The Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has had regular meetings with Home Office ministerial colleagues to discuss online child protection, particularly with regard to ensuring that the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is able to continue its excellent work to protect children as it moves to the new National Crime Agency.

Police and Crime Commissioners

George Freeman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps she has taken to ensure police and crime commissioners take account of rural policing needs in (a) police plans and (b) police budgets;
	(2)  what guidance she plans to issue to newly-elected police and crime commissioners on (a) policing rural communities and (b) preventing rural crimes;
	(3)  what support police and crime commissioners will receive from her Department to help tackle rural crime.

Nick Herbert: The Government fully recognises the vulnerabilities of rural communities to particular crimes. The election of police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will ensure that rural communities are given a stronger voice in determining local policing plans. We will not be issuing prescriptive guidance to PCCs in policing rural communities or preventing rural crimes.
	The vast majority of Government funding to the police is allocated using the police allocation formula (PAF). The PAF distributes funding based on relative workload in an area, and a portion according to population sparsity, to address the specific needs of rural forces.

Riot Control Weapons

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what reviews have been undertaken into the long-term medical effects of the use of plastic bullets in Northern Ireland; and what information her Department holds on the effects of their use in other jurisdictions;
	(2)  what advice she has given to police authorities on their stocks of plastic bullets, water cannon and crowd-controlling anti-riot gases;
	(3)  what advice she has given to police authorities on the use of plastic bullets, water cannon and gas in the event of civil disturbances;
	(4)  what stocks of (a) plastic bullets, (b) water cannon and (c) crowd control gas is held by (i) police authorities and (ii) the armed forces.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 12 July 2012
	There have not been any reviews by the Home Office into the long-term medical effects of the use of plastic bullets, more accurately known as Attenuating Energy Projectile (AEP), in Northern Ireland or in other jurisdictions. The deployment and storage of AEP is the responsibility of individual Chief Officers. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has not provided any advice to police authorities on the storage or use of AEP. The Home Office does not hold information on stocks held by police authorities or the armed forces. Neither water cannon nor ‘crowd control gases' are approved for use in England and Wales.

Food: Charitable Donations

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 1 May 2012, Official Report, column 1385W, on food: charitable donations, what the outcome was of her Department's (a) examination of barriers to food redistribution and (b) discussions with Lord Young of Graffham on removing civil and criminal liability from good faith food donors;

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to encourage large supermarkets to donate unwanted food to FareShare and similar organisations.

James Paice: holding answer 9 July 2012
	On 3 July, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my noble Friend, Lord Taylor of Holbeach, hosted a roundtable discussion with major retailers and food redistribution charities. This explored the barriers to redistribution and considered an outline proposal from FareShare and FoodCycle that seeks to make redistribution easier for both charities and retailers. This proposal would build upon the partnerships most major retailers already have with redistribution charities.
	DEFRA officials are working with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to provide clarity on the existing legal situation for food donors. The FSA, which is responsible for food safety, advises that food passed on or supplied in this way must meet EU food safety requirements in order to protect consumers and safeguard public health.

Food: Waste

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what she is doing to encourage the reduction of food waste by food suppliers.

James Paice: The Government are working to reduce food and packaging waste through the Courtauld Commitment, our responsibility deal with grocery retailers and manufacturers.
	On 27 June, we launched the Hospitality and Food Service Agreement, our new voluntary agreement with restaurants, hotels, pubs and canteens. This aims to reduce food and packaging waste and to manage the waste that does arise more sustainably.
	On 3 July, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman) and my noble Friend, Lord Taylor of Holbeach, hosted a roundtable discussion with major retailers and food redistribution charities. This explored the barriers to redistribution and considered an outline proposal from FareShare and FoodCycle that seeks to make redistribution easier for both charities and retailers. This proposal would build upon the partnerships most major retailers already have with redistribution charities.

Unemployment

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2012, Official Report, column 651W, on unemployment, by how much claimant count in these categories has risen since May 2010.

Cheryl Gillan: Since May 2010 in Wales unemployment has risen by 6,045 (8.3%), youth unemployment has risen by 2,070 (8.7%) and long term youth unemployment has risen by 2,765 (37.1%).
	It is worth noting that during the last Parliament of the previous Government unemployment in Wales rose by 32,060 (79.4%), youth unemployment rose by 10,105 (73.5%) and long term youth unemployment rose by 5,085 (215%).

Post Offices

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the future of post offices in Scotland.

David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland, the right hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Michael Moore), and I have had regular discussions with the Minister for Postal Affairs, the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb), and other ministerial colleagues about the future of post office services in Scotland. The Government has made clear its commitment to maintaining the Post Office network across the UK, which is supported by £1.34 billion of Government funding.

Homelessness and Repossession Orders

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will assess the contribution of manipulation on the LIBOR rate to the level of (a) repossessions and (b) homelessness.

Grant Shapps: Further to my answer of 2 July 2012, Official Report, column 581, I can note that only a very small minority of mortgages, primarily subprime and buy to let from specialist lenders, are directly linked to LIBOR. Most of these were lent before the banking crisis. Very few (if any) of the large banks/building societies provide mortgage products which have a direct link to LIBOR. Therefore only a small minority of mortgages will have been directly affected by the attempted manipulation.
	It may be possible that there was some indirect impact on the pricing of mortgages. This is due to the links between LIBOR and the cost of wholesale funding. However, wholesale funding makes up only a part of the funding mix used by banks to lend to the real economy, and the cost of funding is one of a number of factors used by banks when considering how to price their mortgages. Therefore while the attempted manipulation may have had some indirect effects, these are likely to have been small. It is also important to remember that where the aim was to attempt to manipulate LIBOR downwards, the effect may have been positive, as it would have reduced the costs of bank funding.
	The Government has established an independent review into the structure and governance of LIBOR and the corresponding criminal sanctions regime. This will be headed by Martin Wheatley (Chief Executive Officer designate of the Financial Conduct Authority) and it is envisaged that it will report by the end of summer.

Homelessness: Greater London

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) he and (b) his officials have had any contact with the London boroughs of Richmond, Kingston, Sutton and Croydon to discuss their proposal to house homeless families outside their boroughs.

Grant Shapps: The Department has not made contact with the London boroughs of Richmond, Kingston, Sutton or Croydon to discuss specifically their proposal to house families outside their boroughs. However, officials within the Department's Homelessness and Support Division regularly make contact with local authorities to discuss homelessness issues including their use of housing stock to accommodate homeless families.
	The law makes it clear that local authorities must secure accommodation within their own borough so far as reasonably practicable. The Government wants to go further on this and is currently consulting on how best to strengthen requirements in relation to location and suitability when local authorities secure accommodation for the use of households owed duties under the homelessness legislation.

Homelessness: Veterans

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of homeless veterans in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England and Wales.

Grant Shapps: The Department does not collect information on the total number of people in households that have been accepted as being owed the main homelessness duty who have previously served in HM forces, but it does collect information from local authorities on:
	(i) The number of households accepted as homeless in a particular period where the applicant was vulnerable as a result of serving in HM forces; and
	(ii) The number of households accepted as homeless in a particular period where the main reason for the loss of the last settled home was leaving HM forces.
	
		
			 Applicant households found to be eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need 2011-12 
			  Having served in HM forces (E2.11) Left HM forces(E3.11a) 
			 England 30 182 
			 South Yorkshire 1 2 
			 Barnsley 0 0 
			 Source: P1E returns, questions E2 11 and E3 11 a 
		
	
	Separate figures are not collected for the Barnsley Central parliamentary constituency. The. closest matching area for which figures exist is that covered by Barnsley metropolitan borough council, which also includes the Barnsley East constituency and parts of the Penistone and Stocksbridge and Wentworth and Dearne constituencies. South Yorkshire comprises of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield local authorities.
	The Department does not collect figures for Wales: these are a devolved matter. A figure for the number of households accepted as homeless and in priority need in Wales in 2011-12 where a member was vulnerable due to being homeless after leaving the armed forces is, however, available in the Welsh Government's published statistical release for ‘Homelessness, January to March 2012’. This is available at:
	http://wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/headlines/housing2012/120620/?lang=en
	We secured an additional £70 million last year to help local agencies prevent and tackle homelessness. This includes £20 million Homelessness Transition Fund to support the roll-out of No Second Night Out and protect vital front line services and £20 million Single Homelessness Prevention Fund to help ensure single homeless people get access to good housing advice. This is on top of the existing £10 million to help single people access private rented sector accommodation and the £400 million we are investing for homelessness prevention over four years (2011-12 to 2014-15).
	England has one of the strongest safety nets in the world to protect families and vulnerable households who become homeless through no fault of their own. It provides a consistent, national statutory framework for the provision of homelessness assistance across England.
	The Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness will shortly publish its second report on preventing homelessness which will include veterans. The latest figures from CHAIN which covers London highlight that only 4% of rough sleepers from the UK have experience of the armed forces.
	I am determined to ensure that current and former members of the armed forces gain the housing they deserve, recognising the sacrifices they have made for the country. I have, therefore, introduced measures to place members of the armed forces at the top of the priority list for home ownership schemes, including FirstBuy.
	I recently published final new statutory social allocations guidance, following consultation, setting out how councils' allocation schemes can give priority to all service personnel, including through the use of local preference criteria and local lettings policies.
	I am also changing the law by regulation so that former personnel with urgent housing needs are always given high priority for social housing; and councils are prevented from applying local connection requirements to disqualify members of the armed forces and those within five years of leaving the services. Following consultation, we are also extending these regulations to bereaved spouses and seriously injured reservists.

Housing Benefit

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2012, Official Report, column 600W, on housing benefit, whether the increase in expenditure on housing benefit since the original impact assessment from the affordable rent model will be funded from the Homes and Communities Agency's budget.

Grant Shapps: Housing providers' response to the Affordable Homes programme exceeded our original expectations. As a result, we now expect to be able to deliver 80,000 new affordable homes through the Affordable Homes programme, compared to our expectation of 56,000 at the time of the affordable rent impact assessment.
	This positive response means that we now expect to deliver a total of 170,000 new affordable homes over this spending review period, through a total investment of £19.5 billion public and private funding.
	Because we have been able to provide more homes with the original budget than we anticipated at the time of the impact assessment, there will be some further impact on the housing benefit bill The Department for Communities and Local Government therefore agreed to cover the anticipated £56 million increase in housing benefit costs over the spending review period associated with this increase in delivery. This was funded from Departmental Unallocated Provision.
	I note that the National Audit Office's recent study into the Affordable Rent programme observed that:
	“The Department selected the best delivery model open to it for the funds it had available... The Department has so far achieved its policy objective to maximise the number of homes delivered within the available grant funding... The Programme was over subscribed which led to the Department raising its target for the number of affordable homes it expects to deliver.”
	(National Audit Office, Financial viability of the social housing sector: introducing the Affordable Homes Programme, 4 July 2012, HC 465, pp.6-7).

Public Expenditure

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he expects his Department to underspend its budget for 2012-13; and what estimate he has made of any such underspend.

Bob Neill: The Office of Budgetary Responsibility forecasts underspends against departmental expenditure limits as part of its Economic and Fiscal Outlook in the autumn.
	As part of its transparency agenda the Government publishes the full detail of plans and outturn for all Departments after the end of the financial year, usually in September. HM Treasury publishes outturn data for all Departments from the COINS database, available on the Treasury website on a quarterly basis. Forecasts for 2012-13 outturn by Department will be published at Budget 2013.

Quarrying: Kent

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to make a decision on the proposed westerly extension to Hermitage Quarry, Aylesford, Kent, reference TM10/2029.

Bob Neill: The inquiry into the above application is due to open at 10.00 am on 27 November 2012 at Oakwood House Hotel, Oakwood Park, Maidstone, Kent. It is expected to last for up to 12 days. The date by when the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), will make a decision on the application will be announced after the closure of the inquiry.

Blue Badge Scheme: Thalidomide

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make it her policy that thalidomide survivors should automatically receive blue badges.

Norman Baker: The main aim of the blue badge scheme is to enable severely disabled people to park close to places they need to visit. The main category of people who can qualify for a badge is those who have a permanent and substantial disability that means they are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking. Local authorities administer and enforce the scheme and it is for them to take decisions on whether or not someone meets the eligibility criteria. They are now required to refer people for an independent assessment in cases where a person's eligibility may be in doubt.
	However, it was recognised by previous Governments that those people with Thalidomide related disabilities would also benefit from being in possession of a badge. The scheme was therefore extended in 1992 to include such people. The criterion was strictly limited to those who regularly drive a motor vehicle but who have such a severe disability in both upper limbs that they are unable to turn the steering wheel by hand even if that wheel is fitted with a turning knob.
	In October 2007, the eligibility criterion was extended to people with severe disabilities in both arms so that people who regularly drive a non-adapted vehicle but cannot operate, or have considerable difficulty operating, all or some types of parking meter are eligible for a badge. We have no plans to make any further changes to this criterion.

Railways

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent steps her Department has taken to encourage more people to use trains rather than other methods of transport.

Theresa Villiers: The Department is working to improve the quality of all modes of transport.
	With regard to rail, the Government's Rail Reform Command Paper, published in March 2012, set out our ambition for a more customer-focused and financially sustainable railway for both passengers and freight. It sets out Government's aim to put an end to above inflation rises in regulated rail fares when savings are achieved in the cost of running the railways and the wider economic situation permits.
	The Government has also confirmed plans for a national high speed rail network stretching from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, including stations in the east midlands and south Yorkshire, as well as connections to Heathrow and HS1. HS2 is forecast to carry up to 4.5 million passengers every year who might otherwise have travelled by air, as well as seeing up to nine million passengers transfer from the national road network.
	The Government has also today announced a £9.4 billion package of investment for our railways for the period 2014-19, including £4.2 billion of funding for new schemes to expand capacity and improve services for passengers and freight users.

Railways: Bicycles

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with (a) Southern Railway, (b) Southeastern Railway and (c) relevant cycling organisations about the restrictions they have imposed on bicycles on trains during the period of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Theresa Villiers: The Department has been made aware of temporary changes to such policies during the period of the Olympic and Paralympics Games. Regular discussions have taken place with operators on all their operational preparations to accommodate the large numbers of additional passengers expected at Games time. I am not aware the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), has had any specific discussions with cycling organisations about Olympics restrictions, but the Department is in regular touch with such organisations in promoting cycling as an alternative form of transport for local journeys.

Railways: Freight

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to promote transportation of freight by rail.

Theresa Villiers: In the last five years the Government has announced record levels of rail freight investment to support continued growth including:
	(i) £200 million towards the development of a strategic freight network;
	(ii) over £150 million on the provision of infrastructure enhancement for freight through the Productivity Transport Innovation Fund;
	(iii) £55 million for work on the strategic freight network announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s autumn statement of 2011.
	The Government also supports the shift of freight from road to rail through the Department for Transport’s Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme. This assists companies with the operating costs of rail or inland waterways, where these are more expensive than road and where there are environmental benefits. Over 800,000 lorries a year are taken off the road as a result of this scheme.

Taxis: Disabled

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects to launch a consultation on the proportion of wheelchair accessible vehicles per local fleet that must be met before a licensing authority can refuse to grant a licence for a wheelchair accessible vehicle for the purpose of controlling taxi numbers.

Norman Baker: The Government has in place a rigorous approval system for considering the implications of any new Regulation which it introduces. We have been considering the case for commencing section 161 of the Equality Act to which this question refers in the context of the review of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing being carried out by the Law Commission.

Holiday Playschemes

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what budget his Department provided for holiday playschemes (a) nationwide and (b) in each local authority area in (i) music, (ii) sport, (iii) performing arts and (iv) total, in the school years (A) 2007-08, (B) 2008-09, (C) 2009-10, (D) 2010-11 and (E) 2011-12;
	(2)  how many children attended holiday playschemes (a) nationally and (b) in each local authority area in (i) music, (ii) sport, (iii) performing arts and (iv) in total in the school years (A) 2007-08, (B) 2008-09, (C) 2009-10, (D) 2010-11 and (E) 2011-12;
	(3)  how many hours of holiday playschemes were offered (a) nationally and (b) in each local authority area in (i) music, (ii) sport, (iii) performing arts and (iv) in total in the school years (A) 2007-08, (B) 2008-09, (C) 2009-10, (D) 2010-11 and (E) 2011-12.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 13 July 2012
	The Department of Education has not provided any direct funding for holiday playschemes during any of the years cited.
	In 2010-11 the Department made approximately £4 million available for 19 local authorities to take part in a one-year pilot to explore different approaches to developing and improving holiday child care provision.
	The Department does not collect information on the number of children who have attended holiday playschemes or how many hours were offered nationally or by local authority area. The Department's survey of child care providers showed that in 2010 there were 7,700 holiday clubs offering 349,400 places nationally.
	In September 2011, the Deputy Prime Minister announced that £50 million, from the Pupil Premium, has been made available to schools that have disadvantaged pupils moving into Year 7 to run a one week or two week summer school. Approximately 2,000 schools have signed up to take part in the programme and provisional pupil figures suggest around 65,000 disadvantaged pupils will benefit. Schools are free to structure the summer schools as they feel best but it is anticipated that music, sport and performing arts will feature in these programmes.
	The Prime Minister recently asked the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller) and I to lead a Childcare Commission which will look at child care for the over-fives, particularly the wrap-around child care that many families need after school and in the holidays. The intention is to identify ways to enable parents and other volunteers to set up the schemes they want in their area; and to promote partnerships between schools and voluntary and private providers.

Young People: Drugs

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the relationship between accommodation status and substance abuse among under 18 year olds.

Sarah Teather: The Government has supported a number of studies that look at the effects of substance misuse and the well-being of young people. However, none provide enough information on accommodation status to carry out an analysis of its relationship with substance misuse amongst young people.

Armed Forces: Mental Illness

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what treatment is provided before a medical discharge to a member of the armed forces diagnosed with a mental health condition.

Andrew Robathan: All personnel will be initially assessed and managed in Primary Care, and referred into specialist mental health care services where appropriate (which may include in-patient care in a bespoke NHS service contracted by Ministry of Defence).
	Our specialist mental health care services are centred round 15 military Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs) across the UK (plus centres overseas). Personnel referred will be assessed by a mental health professional, which (depending on the referred problem) may be a mental health nurse, psychiatrist, clinical psychologist or mental health social worker. Treatments available include medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotic medications and anxiolytic medications as well as psychotherapies (including simple supportive or problem-solving counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing therapy and Motivational Interviewing).
	Recommendations for medical discharge will be made either because an individual's condition and/or their treatment makes them no longer able to fulfil their occupational role, or there is a residual vulnerability to relapse after their treatment that leaves them at too high a risk either to themselves or their unit for further service. There are a number of supports available to those leaving the service, both non-medical and medical. With respect to the latter, mental health social workers will support personnel going through their medical discharge and beyond, addressing issues such as housing, employment, benefits and transfer of care to the NHS.
	In addition, in accordance with a recommendation in Dr Andrew Murrison's "Fighting Fit" Report, we have introduced a process whereby service personnel can now, where a course of treatment has already started, access mental health care at a DCMH for up to six months after they have left the service. Dr Murrison's report has also led to a number of other enhancements to the service provided for ex-service personnel with mental health disorders, to which discharged personnel will have access.

Army

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits to the Army there have been from each (a) region of England and (b) nation of the UK in each of the last 10 years; and what demographic projections his Department has made of the age cohort from which infantry recruits are drawn in each such region and nation.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 12 July 2012
	The following tables show the number of recruits to the regular Army from each region of England and nation of the UK in each of the past 10 years. Regional data for Army officers is only held from 2007-08. Figures have been rounded to 10 and those under five have not been included.
	
		
			 2011-12 
			 Region Army officer Army other rank 
			 West Midlands 40 1,040 
			 South 110 470 
			 North East 90 1,740 
			 South East — 440 
			 North West 40 1,690 
			 Wessex 90 660 
		
	
	
		
			 East 90 1,610 
			 London 60 550 
			 England Total 520 8,200 
			    
			 Scotland 40 1,060 
			 Wales 20 730 
			 Northern Ireland 20 280 
		
	
	
		
			 2010-11 
			 Region Army  o fficer Army  o ther  r ank 
			 West Midlands 40 900 
			 South 110 390 
			 North East 80 1,550 
			 South East — 290 
			 North West 60 1,230 
			 Wessex 80 450 
			 East 70 1,010 
			 London 80 370 
			 England Total 520 6,190 
			    
			 Scotland 30 830 
			 Wales 30 470 
			 Northern Ireland 20 240 
		
	
	
		
			 2009-10 
			 Region Army  o fficer Army  o ther  r ank 
			 West Midlands 60 1,350 
			 South 80 580 
			 North East 90 2,150 
			 South East — 420 
			 North West 40 1,900 
			 Wessex 50 810 
			 East 60 1,930 
			 London 70 850 
			 England Total 450 9,990 
			    
			 Scotland 50 1,100 
			 Wales 20 870 
			 Northern Ireland 20 320 
		
	
	
		
			 2008-09 
			 Region Army  o fficer Army  o ther  r ank 
			 West Midlands 80 1,460 
			 South 100 630 
			 North East 60 2,100 
			 South East — 460 
			 North West 60 1,820 
			 Wessex 30 1,000 
			 East 50 1,940 
			 London 70 1,300 
			 England Total 450 10,710 
			    
			 Scotland 60 840 
			 Wales 10 920 
			 Northern Ireland 10 290 
		
	
	
		
			 2007-08 
			 Region Army  o fficer Army  o ther  r ank 
			 West Midlands 60 1,360 
			 South 60 550 
			 North East 10 1,950 
			 South East — 420 
			 North West 30 1,720 
		
	
	
		
			 Wessex 10 970 
			 East 60 1,650 
			 London 70 1,090 
			 England Total 300 9,710 
			    
			 Scotland 70 740 
			 Wales — 900 
			 Northern Ireland 10 260 
		
	
	
		
			 2006-07 
			 Region Army other rank 
			 West Midlands 1,210 
			 South 600 
			 North East 2,270 
			 South East 410 
			 North West 1,735 
			 Wessex 1,060 
			 East 1,810 
			 London 960 
			 England Total 10,055 
			   
			 Scotland 1,020 
			 Wales 980 
			 Northern Ireland 240 
		
	
	
		
			 2005-06 
			 Region Army Other Rank 
			 West Midlands 1,150 
			 South 500 
			 North East 1,920 
			 South East 400 
			 North West 1,780 
			 Wessex 890 
			 East 1,570 
			 London 1,030 
			 England Total 9,240 
			   
			 Scotland 1,080 
			 Wales 870 
			 Northern Ireland 210 
		
	
	
		
			 2004-05 
			 Region Army other rank 
			 West Midlands 1,000 
			 South 470 
			 North East 1,730 
			 South East 410 
			 North West 1,550 
			 Wessex 790 
			 East 1,380 
			 London 1,100 
			 England Total 8,430 
			   
			 Scotland 1,120 
			 Wales 670 
			 Northern Ireland 260 
		
	
	
		
			 2003-04 
			 Region Army other rank 
			 West Midlands ,1260 
			 South 620 
			 North East 2,400 
			 South East 470 
		
	
	
		
			 North West 1,920 
			 Wessex 1,000 
			 East 1,760 
			 London 1,480 
			 England Total 10,910 
			   
			 Scotland 1,490 
			 Wales 900 
			 Northern Ireland 310 
		
	
	
		
			 2002-03 
			 Region Army Other Rank 
			 West Midlands 1,330 
			 South 760 
			 North East 2,780 
			 South East 600 
			 North West 2,150 
			 Wessex 1,050 
			 East 1,800 
			 London 1,400 
			 England Total 11,870 
			   
			 Scotland 1,600 
			 Wales 920 
			 Northern Ireland 400 
		
	
	The Ministry of Defence has used data available from the Office of National Statistics projections for males within age range for recruiting to the infantry.

Art Works

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what artwork is currently displayed in the offices of each of the Ministers in his Department; and what the estimated cost is of each such artwork.

Andrew Robathan: Artworks and artefacts owned by the Ministry of Defence as items in the MOD Art Collection are classed as non-operational heritage assets in the MOD's Resource Accounts. The MOD collection is managed in line with professional guidelines as laid out by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Government Art Collection (GAC).
	The following tables specify artwork and artefacts currently displayed in the offices of each Minister which are on loan from official collections and their purchase cost where known. In addition, Ministers might choose to display artworks that are their personal possessions.
	With the exception of the two items purchased in 2001 and 2003, the MOD Art Collection items listed entered the collection or its predecessor collections over many years. Where records exist, they show the items were either donated or transferred from the GAC.
	Some items in ministerial offices remain in place since the previous occupants. The following tables show items displayed in the offices and outer offices of current Ministers; similarly, items displayed in offices and outer offices of Ministers in post in April 2010 are shown in the following tables.
	Artwork and artefacts from official art collections which are currently displayed in the offices and outer offices are as follows:
	
		
			 Secretary of State for Defence—Office 
			 Item Artist/Maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 Charles II Letters Patent Anon Print Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Winston Spencer Churchill Anon Photograph Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Terrestrial Globe Replogle Globes Reproduction Purchased for MOD Art Collection on 21 March 2003 at £2,250 MOD Art Collection 
			 A Naval Engagement Nicholas Pocock Painting Cost when GAC originally acquired in 1963 was £400 Government Art Collection 
			 A Mediterranean Seaport Dominic Serres Painting Cost when GAC originally acquired in 1962 was £185 Government Art Collection 
		
	
	
		
			 Secretary of State for Defence—Outer Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 Mediterranean Seascape Sketches in triplicate Rowland Langmaid Photograph Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 HM Custom House, 1941 Alistair Stewart Painting Donation MOD Art Collection 
		
	
	
		
			 Minister (Armed Forces)—Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 Army Scene Terence Cuneo Reproduction Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Winston Churchill Anon Photograph Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Aerial view of the Western Front (No. l) William Wyllie Reproduction Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Facsimile of Afghan Sketch No. 3 Matthew Cook Drawing Donation MOD Art Collection 
			 Facsimile of Afghan Sketch No. 4 Matthew Cook Drawing Donation MOD Art Collection 
			 Fleet at Anchor, Rosyth from Shore, 1917 Muirhead Bone Watercolour Donation MOD Art Collection 
			 Co-belligerent Italian Submarine and other vessels from the Royal Yacht Club of Egypt, 21 February 1944 Rowland Langmaid Watercolour Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Letter by Nelson to Bickerton Lord Nelson Photograph Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Barograph Rototherm Antique Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Bracket Clock Thomas Dutton Antique Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Silver Cigar/Cigarette Box Anon Antique Information not held Royal Navy Trophy Centre 
		
	
	There are no items from official art collections displayed in the outer office of Minister (Armed Forces).
	
		
			 Minister (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology)—Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 Bracket Clock—Tempus Fugit J. J. Elliott Reproduction Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Canadian Infantryman Augustus John Painting Donation MOD Art Collection 
			 Relief Globe Replogle Globes Reproduction Purchased for MOD Art Collection on 6 July 2001 at £750 MOD Art Collection 
			 Bomb Damage, Custom House Alistair Stewart Painting Donation MOD Art Collection 
			 Bomb Damage, Custom House William Hampton Painting Donation MOD Art Collection 
			 Interior, North Bastion, Tower of London, 1942 William Hampton Painting Donation MOD Art Collection 
			 View of North Bastion, Tower of London Alistair Stewart Painting Donation MOD Art Collection 
		
	
	There are no items from official art collections displayed in the outer office of Minister (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology).
	
		
			 Minister (International Security Strategy)—Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 HM Queen Elizabeth II Leonard Boden Reproduction Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 The Thames from Somerset House Canaletto Reproduction Transferred from GAC to MOD MOD Art Collection 
			 Submarine on Patrol at Sunset Anon Photograph Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 HMS Vanguard Thomas Luny Painting Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Shadow of Myself Stefan Gzowski Painting Donation MOD Art Collection 
			 Bengal Light Cavalry R. Ackermann's Costumes of the Indian Army Print One of 221 items purchased in 1859 for £127.2s.2d. Prince Consort Library, Aldershot 
		
	
	
		
			 Minister (International Security Strategy)—Outer Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 The Death of Nelson Daniel Maclise Engraving Information not held MOD Art Collection 
		
	
	
		
			 Minister (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans)—Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 War Graves, Suda Bay, 2006 Brian Harris Photograph Donated MOD Art Collection 
			 Bracket Clock Robert Rentch Antique Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Attack on Vanguard on the Spanish Armada 1588. Painted 1883 Sir Oswald Walters Brierly Engraving Cost when GAC originally acquired in 1964 was £3.00 Government Art Collection 
			 Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum (1850 to 1916) Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope Photogravure Cost when GAC originally acquired in 2002 was £100 Government Art Collection 
		
	
	
		
			 Minister (Defence Personnel Welfare and Veterans)—Outer Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 Bomb Disposal, Iraq Alix Baker Print Donated MOD Art Collection 
			 Eton College Canaletto Reproduction Transferred from GAC to MOD MOD Art Collection 
			 Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) Field Marshal and Prime Minister Samuel Cousins after Sir Thomas Lawrence Mezzotint Cost when GAC originally acquired in 1951 was £4.20 Government Art Collection 
			 The Battle of the Nile fought 1 August 1798 James Fittler after Phillip James de Loutherbourg Engraving Cost when GAC originally acquired in 1952 was £2.70 Government Art Collection 
			 'Horatio Nelson', 1st Viscount Nelson (1758-1805) Vice- Admiral and Victor of Trafalgar Richard Earlom after Lemuel Francis Abbott Mezzotint Cost when GAC originally acquired in 1952 was £5.00 Government Art Collection 
		
	
	There are no items from official art collections displayed in the office or outer office of the Under Secretary of State.
	Prior to the 2010 general election the following artwork and artefacts from official art collections were on display in Ministers' offices:
	
		
			 Secretary of State for Defence—Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 Lord Kitchener (picture) Anon Print Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Winston Spencer Churchill Anon Photograph Information not held MOD Art Collection 
		
	
	
		
			 Secretary of State for Defence—Outer Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 Mediterranean Seascape Sketches in triplicate Rowland Langmaid Photograph Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 HM Custom House, 1941 Alistair Stewart Painting Donation MOD Art Collection 
		
	
	
		
			 Minister for Armed Forces—Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 Army Scene Terence Cuneo Reproduction Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Winston Churchill Anon Photograph Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Co-belligerent Italian Submarine and other vessels from the Royal Yacht Club of Egypt, 21 February 1944 Rowland Langmaid Watercolour Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Sha Tau Kok Ken Howard Watercolour Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 'A' Flight No 6 Squadron, No. 12 Group RAF Harold Wyllie Print Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 WAAF Cleaning Spark Plugs Dorothy Coke Reproduction Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 HMS Defence, after action against French Fleet Robert Dodd Print Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Letter by Nelson to Bickerton Lord Nelson Photograph Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Barograph Rototherm Antique Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Bracket Clock Thomas Dutton Antique Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Silver Cigar/Cigarette Box Anon Antique Information not held Royal Navy Trophy Centre 
		
	
	There were no items from official art collections displayed in the outer office of Minister for Armed Forces.
	
		
			 Minister for Defence Equipment and Support—Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 Bracket Clock-Tempus Fugit J. J. Elliott Reproduction Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Canadian Infantryman Augustus John Painting Donation MOD Art Collection 
			 Relief Globe Replogle Globes Reproduction Purchased for MOD Art Collection on 6 July 2001 at £750 MOD Art Collection 
			 WAAF Cleaning Spark Plugs Dorothy Coke Print Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Prospect of Westminster Anon Engraving Information not held MOD Art Collection 
		
	
	There were no items from official art collections displayed in the outer office of Minister for Defence Equipment and Support.
	
		
			 Minister for International Development and Security—Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of Item 
			 The Thames from Somerset House Canaletto Reproduction Transferred from GAC to MOD MOD Art Collection 
			 HMS Vanguard Thomas Luny Painting Information not held MOD Art Collection 
		
	
	
		
			 Minister for International Development and Security—Outer Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 The Death of Nelson Daniel Maclise Engraving Information not held MOD Art Collection 
		
	
	
		
			 Minister for Veterans—Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 War Graves, Suda Bay, 2006 Brian Harris Photograph Donated MOD Art Collection 
			 Bracket Clock Robert Rentch Antique Information not held MOD Art Collection 
			 Gunner Paul March (Canadian Forces) Henry Lamb Painting Information not held Government Art Collection 
			 A Merchantman at Catania Bernard Hailstone Painting Information not held Government Art Collection 
		
	
	
		
			 Minister for Veterans—Outer Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 Bomb Disposal, Iraq Alix Baker Print Donated MOD Art Collection 
			 Eton College Canaletto Reproduction Transferred from GAC to MOD MOD Art Collection 
		
	
	
		
			 Minister for Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform—Office 
			 Item Artist/maker Item type Original cost Source of item 
			 Outpost 4/5 Anne Hardy Photograph Cost when GAC originally acquired in 2008 was £5,875 Government Art Collection 
		
	
	There were no items from official art collections displayed in the outer office of Minister for Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform.
	There were no items from official art collections displayed in the office or outer office of the Under-Secretary of State.

Nuclear Weapons

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with the French Ministry of Defence on the possible location of UK nuclear weapons in French bases or use of French facilities in the future.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 12 July 2012
	Officials in the Ministry of Defence have had no discussions with colleagues in the French Ministry of Defence on the possible location of UK nuclear weapons in French bases.
	The Teutates Treaty of 2010 enables the construction and use of shared UK- French facilities at Valduc in France. The treaty allows experiments supporting the performance and safety of our nuclear deterrent, although there will be no physical movement of warheads between the two nations and each country will retain sovereignty over its own experiments and data.

Air Passenger Duty

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the monetary value of exemptions from air passenger duty for destinations in the Highlands and Islands in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how much air passenger duty was paid in respect of flights arriving at airports in the Highlands and Islands in each of the last three years;
	(3)  whether he plans to review military exemptions from air passenger duty;
	(4)  what representations he has received from the airline industry on the proposed replacement of air passenger duty;
	(5)  whether his Department plans to introduce a per plane tax on cargo flights between destinations in the Highlands and Islands.

Chloe Smith: No estimate of the monetary value of exemptions from air passenger duty (APD) for destinations in the Highlands and Islands is available.
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not collect information on the contribution to APD revenues made from flights to specific airports.
	The Government has no plans to review military exemptions from air passenger duty.
	The Government received over 500 responses to last year's consultation into air passenger duty, including responses from the vast majority of airlines. The Government's response, published on 6 December 2011, can be found online here:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_airpassenger.htm
	In respect of a per-plane basis for APD I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Bedfordshire (Nadine Dorries) on 26 June 2012, Official Report, column 244W.

Child Trust Fund

James Wharton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for St Helens South and Whiston (Mr Woodward) of 26 June 2012, Official Report, column 245W, on child trust funds, by what means his Department assessed the benefit to holders of child trust funds of conversion to junior individual savings accounts.

Mark Hoban: In my answer of 26 June 2012, Official Report, column 245W, I explained that the Government did not believe that the majority of children with a child trust fund (CTF) would benefit from a change in the rules at the present time.
	In assessing the need for any change in this area, the Government has taken account of the interests of CTF account holders. The majority—around 78%—of CTFs are stakeholder accounts. This is a type of stocks and shares account in which there is greater regulation of investment management, and in which account charges are capped. These rules reflect the universal nature of the CTF product, compared to the optional nature of junior ISA. There is no equivalent in the rules governing the features of junior ISA accounts, so many children with a CTF stakeholder account could see their terms and conditions changed significantly as a result of any conversion.

Commodity Markets

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the contribution of excessive financial participation in the commodity derivative markets to commodity price volatility.

Mark Hoban: Consistent with the 2011 report of the G20 Commodity Study Group, it is clear that marked shifts in the physical supply-demand balance for major commodities, together with ad hoc trade restrictions, have been the main drivers of the price fluctuations over the past 10 years.
	On balance, the Government is sceptical about the degree to which speculation has played a significant causal role in recent commodity price spikes. The Government continues to monitor relevant research in this area with interest.

Commodity Markets

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential for a conflict of interest to arise for exchanges implementing position management measures whose revenue is generated through the trading they host.

Mark Hoban: The Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) requires Recognised Investment Exchanges (‘Exchanges’) to meet a number of statutory requirements, including but not restricted to: provisions relating to the fair and orderly running of their markets, and the quality of those markets; the prevention and detection of market abuse (including actions to manage large market positions); and the establishment of appropriate arrangements to identify and manage conflicts between the interests of the Exchange and, among others, the interests of the financial markets it operates.
	This is all done under the overall supervision of the FSA. In practice, this means that Exchanges must satisfy the FSA—both during specific reviews and on an ongoing basis—that they have satisfactory real-time and post-trade market-monitoring functions, and that conflicts between the Exchange’s commercial interests and its obligations to run clean, fair and orderly markets and identified and appropriately managed.

Pay

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received the report on market facing pay requested on 7 December 2011 from (a) the Prison Officers Pay Review Body, (b) the School Teachers Pay Review Body, (c) the NHS Pay Review Body and (d) the Senior Salaries Review Body; when he expects to receive those reports he has not yet received; and when he plans to publish each such report.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 12 July 2012
	The Government has received the report on market facing pay from the NHS Pay Review Body and expects the other review bodies to report back from July onwards.
	The Government intends to publish these reports and respond to their recommendations when the House returns.

Revenue and Customs

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers have had their details passed to debt collectors by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in pursuit of underpaid tax as a result of miscalculations of tax liability made by HMRC in the PAYE system in the last two years.

David Gauke: HMRC recovered the majority of PAYE underpayments arising in the last two years by adjusting people's tax code or through a voluntary arrangement with the customer to pay the amount due over a period of time.
	Where that was not possible the amounts owed by individuals were moved to their self assessment record. These underpayments will now be pursued by HMRC in line with any other outstanding sums due under self assessment. Where contact is made with the customer during the recovery process the options to include the amount in a tax code or agree payments over a period of time to clear the debt will continue to be offered.
	To date, while the processes for recovery of amounts owed under self assessment includes referring some debts to debt collection agencies, none of the debts relating to PAYE amounts owed that are now on the self assessment record have been referred to a debt collection agency.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Dr Whiteford) on 10 March 2011, Official Report, column 1193W.

Electricity

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the role of independently-owned electricity generation in improving liquidity in the wholesale power market as part of the electricity market reform process.

Charles Hendry: Poor liquidity is a barrier to entry in the GB wholesale power market. This is especially acute in the forward markets. Independent power companies are likely to have stronger incentives to trade than their vertically integrated counterparts and therefore contribute to market liquidity. It is important, however, that all market participants play a part in ensuring competitive and transparent markets.
	In the past 12 months we have seen some positive steps being taken. Nearly 30% of GB power consumption was traded through the day ahead exchange auctions last month representing a sevenfold year on year increase in traded volumes.
	However there is still much more to do and we want to see industry and Ofgem go further to address liquidity especially in the forward markets. Ofgem have just finished consulting on a proposal to improve forward market liquidity—we agree with their objectives and hopes to see a workable proposal taken forward.
	We will act where necessary to introduce reforms where the structural barriers to market entry are not addressed through the actions taken by Ofgem and industry.

Ex Gratia Payments

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the monetary value of ex-gratia payments made through schemes administered by his Department over the last two years.

Gregory Barker: Ex gratia payments are disclosed in note 29 to the Department's 2011-12 annual accounts on page 183 in the “extra contractual payments” line. The accounts can be found at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/about/our_goals/annual_reports/annual_reports.aspx

Fuel Poverty

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of households in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland living in fuel poverty in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many low income households with children are classified as living in fuel poverty in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland;
	(3)  how many pensioner households are classified as living in fuel poverty in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland;
	(4)  how many households with individuals registered as disabled are classified as living in fuel poverty in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

Gregory Barker: Fuel poverty is a devolved measurement and each country of the UK is responsible for measuring the number of fuel poor households in their own country.
	The following table shows the number of fuel poor households (in thousands) in each year since 2005 for which they have been measured.
	
		
			  Number of households in fuel poverty (thousand) 
			 England  
			 2010 3,536 
			 2009 3,964 
			 2008 3,335 
			 2007 2,823 
		
	
	
		
			 2006 2,432 
			   
			 Scotland  
			 2010 658 
			 2009 766 
			 2008 618 
			 2007 586 
			 2006 543 
			   
			 Wales  
			 2010 (1)332 
			 2009 (1)368 
			 2008 332 
			 2007 (1)276 
		
	
	
		
			 2006 (1)243 
			   
			 Northern Ireland  
			 2010 (1)297 
			 2009 302 
			 2008 (1)301 
			 2007 (1)256 
			 2006 226 
		
	
	2011 fuel poverty figures for England will be published in July 2013. Figures for Wales and Northern Ireland are not produced every year.
	Detailed numbers of fuel poor households shown in answer to other questions are derived from the most recent data available in each country.
	
		
			 Number of households in fuel poverty 
			     Thousand 
			   Low income households with children in fuel poverty Pensioner households in fuel poverty Households living in fuel poverty containing somebody that is disabled 
			 England 2010 259 1,886 1,290 
			 Scotland 2010 46 402 296 
			 Wales 2008 29 183 160 
			 Northern Ireland 2009 n/a 153 139 
			 n/a = not available 
		
	
	It is not possible to perfectly identify which households contain ‘pensioners’ so age thresholds (those aged 60 and over) have been used. Similarly, for income, the lowest three income decile groups tend to be associated with low income, hence have been chosen to answer the question on low incomes. Disability is classified alongside where somebody in the household has a long-term illness and cannot be separated.

Fuel Poverty: Merseyside

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of fuel poverty in St Helens South and Whiston constituency.

Gregory Barker: The coalition Government is committed to tackling fuel poverty and supporting low income and vulnerable consumers to heat their homes at an affordable cost.
	We continue to fund the Warm Front scheme, providing low income vulnerable households, living in energy inefficient properties, with a range of energy efficient heating and insulation measures. Since 2010, when the constituency was formed, Warm Front has assisted 511 households in St Helen's and Whiston. Between 2005 and 2010, Warm Front assisted 4,387 households in the now defunct constituency of St Helen's. Since the start of the scheme in June 2000 the scheme has assisted 2.3 million households across England.
	In winter 2011-12, the Warm Home Discount scheme provided energy supplier funded discounts to around 700,000 of the poorest pensioners across Great Britain with a Core Group discount of £120 off electricity bills. Nearly 600,000 of these customers received the discount without having to claim, as a result of data matching between Government and energy suppliers. This is a significant benefit for a group which may struggle to claim. Other low income vulnerable households may also be assisted through the scheme. Overall we expect 2 million low income vulnerable households a year to be assisted through the Warm Home Discount scheme.
	We recently published the consultation response regarding the new Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which will be our flagship policy for improving the energy efficiency of the nation's housing stock. Due to launch in October 2012, ECO will run alongside the Green Deal and will have twin objectives to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty. ECO requires energy suppliers to help households access more expensive insulation measures such as solid wall and hard to treat cavity wall insulation through the Green Deal and to provide measures to low income and vulnerable households to help reduce the costs of staying warm and healthy. Through ECO around £540 million will be spent annually by suppliers to assist low income households and low income areas.
	In addition, the Government provides pensioner households with winter fuel payments to help with additional heating costs during the winter. Cold weather payments are also made to low income and vulnerable households where there is an average temperature of 0° C or below for seven consecutive days. These payments have been permanently increased to £25 per week and in winter 2011-12 over 5 million cold weather payments were paid in Great Britain worth an estimated £129 million.

Microgeneration: Merseyside

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many residents of St Helens South and Whiston constituency participate in the feed-in tariff scheme for home electricity generation.

Gregory Barker: The latest published statistics shows at the end of the first quarter of 2012 (ending March 2012), 158 domestic installations in the St Helens South and Whitson constituency were confirmed on the feed-in tariff scheme since it began in April 2010. 99% (157) of these were installations of solar photovoltaics, with Micro CHP installations representing the remaining 1%.
	The statistics to the end of the second quarter of 2012 (ending June 2012) showing the number of installations by constituency will be published at 09.30 on Tuesday 24 July 2012.

Natural Gas: Exploration

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the finding of the International Energy Agency report on shale gas published on 29 May 2012 that under both potential scenarios for the exploitation of shale gas, emissions are well above the trajectory required to reach the globally agreed goal of limiting the temperature rise to 2°C; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: Provided methane emissions to atmosphere are minimised by use of appropriate controls and technologies, and are estimated and included in national greenhouse gas inventories, from a climate perspective, increased use of shale gas globally should be cautiously welcomed. This is because it can reduce emissions where it displaces coal generation, and where it does not lead to a weakening of policy support and investment in renewables and nuclear.
	While shale gas will not be enough by itself to put the world on a 2 degree trajectory, as recognised by the International Energy Agency report, it could make a significant difference to global emissions—and it could be combined with carbon capture and storage, a scenario not considered by the International Energy Agency.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark of 24 November 2010, Official Report, column 351W, on nuclear power stations: construction, what discussions he has had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (b) EDF energy, (c) other private companies and (d) his French counterpart on the provision of loan guarantees in relation to the construction of new nuclear power stations; whether loan guarantees constitute a public subsidy; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Charles Hendry: According to our records no meeting has occurred between the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), EDF Energy other private companies or his French counterparts on the provision of loan guarantees in relation to the construction of new nuclear power stations.
	The Government policy on public subsidy was set out in a written ministerial statement on 18 October 2010, Official Report, columns 42-46WS.

Youth Advisory Panel

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on what date (a) he last met and (b) he will next meet his Department's Youth Advisory Panel; what recent progress he has made on implementing the recommendations of the Youth Advisory Panel's first report to (i) ensure a fair deal for young people in the decision-making process, (ii) ensure Government does not lock young and future generations into ecological debt and (iii) continue engagement in dialogue with the youth constituency and stakeholders so that the youth perspective is heard, and responded to, by Government; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Charles Hendry: Established in 2010, the Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) has provided the principle vehicle for DECC's youth engagement work.
	The Panel last met formally on 5 December 2012 since when our approach to youth engagement has been reviewed. The Panel have not, therefore, met with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey).
	Following the review the Department has decided to move to a new model of youth engagement based on approaches to reach out to a wider audience. The work of the Panel will therefore draw to a conclusion, although individual members will remain actively engaged in DECC's work. Accordingly, there are no plans for a meeting with the Secretary of State. A letter of thanks is being sent to Panel members, past and present, for their contribution, which has been instrumental in keeping the Department abreast of young people's opinions and concerns across a range of energy and climate change issues. The Panel's report "Energy: How fair is it anyway?" was a real achievement and well received within the Department.
	Young people, as with all citizens, are encouraged to participate in consultations on developing policy. Our new approach to youth engagement will see Ministers and senior officials more connected with youth audiences to encourage further participation.
	All DECC's policies are designed to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy supplies and enable the UK to meet our 2020 and 2050 emission targets, which are essential if we are to prevent young and future generations bearing the cost of ecological neglect. I understand that the task of reducing emissions will be easier with the support and active engagement of young people. Uniquely placed as the 'DECC generation', those aged 16 now will be 24 in 2020, 34 in 2030 and 54 in 2050. As the home owners of the future they have an important role to play in demanding clean sustainable energy and energy efficient housing. They will be instrumental in the success of the Green Deal and Smart Meter programme.
	With that in mind, youth engagement work will be embedded across all our programmes and in our wider stakeholder work with schools, community organisations and NGOs. Making our youth engagement work even more energetic was a major reason for the review of our work in this area and for our new "reach out" proposition. In particular we will be working more closely with youth organisations, encouraging young people to engage in a dialogue with DECC online through my2050, social media and through a range of other channels.

Cemeteries

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the need for further burial space and grounds (a) in London and (b) nationally.

Jonathan Djanogly: After careful consideration, I took the view last autumn that introducing a policy of reusing graves was not critical at this time. We have, nevertheless committed to keeping the situation under review. In some circumstances section 74 of the London Local Authorities Act 2007 allows for the reuse of graves in London.

Ex Gratia Payments

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate his Department has made of the monetary value of ex gratia payments made through schemes administered by his Department in the last two years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Department and its three executive agencies made ex gratia payments totalling £1.22 million in 2010-11 and £1.15 million in 2011-12.
	Further information on ‘ex gratia’ payments is also available on page 142 of the Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12 which were laid in Parliament on 11 July 2012.

Prostitution

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many sex workers were cautioned in the Metropolitan police area during 2011;
	(2)  how many persons in the Metropolitan police area were convicted of controlling prostitutes for gain in 2011;
	(3)  how many sex workers were arrested and proceeded against during 2011.

Crispin Blunt: The number of offenders cautioned for selected prostitution related offences in the Metropolitan police force area, in 2011, can be viewed in table 1.
	The number of defendants found guilty at all courts for controlling prostitutes for gain in the Metropolitan police force area, in 2011, can be viewed in table 2.
	The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates court for selected prostitution related offences in England and Wales, in 2011 can be viewed in table 3.
	Statistical information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice from the Police National Computer on cautions issued in England and Wales does not identify all the specific circumstances of each case. It is not possible to identify the specific activities behind each offence.
	The Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. This database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not all the specific circumstances of each case. It is not possible to identify the specific activities behind each offence.
	The requested data on arrests are not collected centrally. Available data on arrests held by the Home Office cover notifiable offences, broken down at offence group level only; covering categories such as violence against the person and sexual offences. From these centrally reported categories it is not possible to separately identify arrests for specific offences. It is also not possible to identify from information on arrests whether the alleged offender was a sex worker.
	Further, offences under section 46 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 and section 1 of the Street Offences Act 1959 are not notifiable offences and therefore do not form part of the arrests collection.
	
		
			 Table 1: Offenders cautioned (1, 2)  for selected prostitution related offences (3) , in Metropolitan police force area, 2011 (4) 
			 Metropolitan police force area (5) N umber 
			 Prostitution offences 130 
			 (1) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When an offender has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (2) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (3) Offences include: Causing or inciting prostitution—Sexual Offences Act 2003 s52 Keeping a brothel for prostitution—Sexual Offences Act 1956 33a Keeping a brothel—Sexual Offences Act 1956 s33 Placing of advertisement relating to prostitution—Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s46 Person persistently loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution—Street Offences Act 1959 s1 (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (5) Includes Metropolitan and City of London police force areas. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Defendants found guilty at all courts under "controlling prostitutes for gain", in Metropolitan police force area (1) , 2011 (2, 3) 
			 Statute Offence N umber 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003, s53 Controlling prostitution for gain 4 
			 (1) Includes Metropolitan and City of London police force areas. (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3: Defendants proceeded against at magistrates court for selected prostitution related offences, in England and Wales, 2011 (1,) () (2) 
			 England and Wales N umber 
			 Prostitution offences(3) 261 
			 (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Offences include: Causing or inciting prostitution—Sexual Offences Act 2003 s52 Keeping a brothel for prostitution—Sexual Offences Act 1956 33a Keeping a brothel—Sexual Offences Act 1956 s33 Placing of advertisement relating to prostitution—Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 s46 Person persistently loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution—Street Offences Act 1959 s1 Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Solicitors: Fees and Charges

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what steps he is taking in respect of excessive legal charges levied by solicitors in no-win-no-fee cases;
	(2)  what representations he has received on lawyers using minor compensation cases to charge high legal fees to small employers in no-win-no-fee cases;
	(3)  whether his Department plans to meet the Law Society on no-win-no-fee cases;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with representatives of small business on lawyers charging high fees in no-win-no-fee cases.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Government is taking firm action to tackle the high costs in civil litigation under the current no win no fee conditional fee agreement (CFA) regime. Part 2 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 makes fundamental changes to the CFA arrangements to reduce legal costs which often fall on businesses and other defendants. Under our changes, CFAs will continue to be available to fund such claims, although any success fee and after the event (ATE) insurance premium will no longer be recoverable from the losing party. Both claimants and defendants will have an incentive to keep legal costs down. The changes will be implemented in April 2013.
	The changes are based on Lord Justice Jackson's recommendations in his Review of Civil Litigation Costs. The Government conducted a full public consultation in November 2010 on implementing the reforms. The Ministry of Justice engaged with and received representations from a wide range of interested parties during and after the consultation process including the Law Society and the Federation of Small Businesses. We will continue to engage with key stakeholders as we move towards implementation.

Young Offenders: Nottinghamshire

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many young adult offenders aged 18 to 20 years from (a) Ashfield constituency and (b) Nottinghamshire were held in (i) young offender institutions, (ii) local prisons, (iii) women's prisons and (iv) other parts of the secure estate in each month since May 2009.

Crispin Blunt: All young offenders serving sentences of DYOI are held in appropriately designated young offender institution (YOI) accommodation within the prison estate. The majority of this accommodation is in dedicated YOIs, although some establishments in the estate have a dual designation (designated both as a prison and a YOI) and hold both adult prisoners and young offenders.
	Serving sentences of DYOI are held in appropriately designated young offender institution (YOI) accommodation within the prison estate. The majority of this accommodation is in dedicated YOIs, although some establishments in the estate have a dual designation (designated both as a prison and a YOI) and hold both adult prisoners and young offenders.
	The first table as follows shows the number of young adult offenders aged 18 to 20-years-old from (a) Ashfield constituency and (b) Nottinghamshire on a set day in each month where data are available since May 2009. The second table provides the information for Nottinghamshire which Ashfield is a part of. The data have only been recorded centrally since May 2009 and from September 2010 are available on a bi-monthly basis.
	
		
			 Ashfield 
			 Number 
			  2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Location May Sept Nov Jan Mar May July Sept Nov Jan Mar May 
			 (a) Male young offender institutions 5 12 13 7 10 7 5 10 10 9 2 2 
			 (b) Male local prisons 0 1 2 0 1 4 2 3 3 2 0 4 
			 (c) Female prisons 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (d) Other prisons 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Nottinghamshire 
			 Number 
			  2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Location May Sept Nov Jan Mar May July Sept Nov Jan Mar May 
			 (a) Male young offender institutions 40 45 46 39 55 48 56 54 47 46 28 38 
			 (b) Male local prisons 8 14 8 9 4 13 9 13 16 12 2 20 
			 (c) Female prisons 2 4 1 0 3 3 1 2 0 3 0 1 
			 (d) Other prisons 0 8 5 3 5 5 4 2 3 1 1 2 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	Information on offenders' residences is provided by offenders on reception into prison and recorded on a central IT system. Addresses can include a home address, an address to which offenders intend to return on discharge or next of kin address and these figures are provided in the table above.
	If no address is given, an offenders committal court address is used as a proxy for the area in which they are resident. These figures are also included in the table above. No address has been recorded and no court information is available for around 3% of all offenders, these figures are excluded from the table above.

GREAT Campaign

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has (a) allocated to and (b) spent on the GREAT campaign since it was established.

Jeremy Browne: In 2011-12 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) allocated £1.4 million to the GREAT Campaign and spent £1.347 million. In addition, the FCO contributed £3 million to GREAT activities allocated and carried out elsewhere in Government.
	For this financial year (2012-13), the FCO has allocated £1.334 million to the GREAT Campaign and had spent £0.467 million by 13 July.
	We have worked with other Government Departments, GREAT Campaign Partners, UK Trade and Investment, VisitBritain and the British Council to use these funds to hold over 200 events around the world, promoting Britain as a world class destination to do business and to visit. Nine high profile launches to date have alone generated coverage with an advertising equivalent value of over £17 million. The events have generated over 1,800 media articles.

Photoshoots and Videos

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on photoshoots and videos involving Ministers since May 2010.

David Lidington: Two Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officers trained in photography covered FCO events attended by Ministers at no additional cost to the department between May 2010 and December 2010. This was reduced to one FCO officer in December 2010.
	Between May 2010 and April 2012 the FCO contracted two professional video journalists through the Central Office of Information (COI). This was reduced to one professional video journalist when COI closed in April 2012, reducing the cost to the department. It would incur disproportionate cost to separate the staff time costs for the videos produced which covered ministerial events from the ones which did not include Ministers. Staff in our overseas network of posts take photographs and videos of ministerial visits but this a tiny part of their role and so details are not held centrally.

USA

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will issue an emergency travel document for Colin Anderton, constituent of the hon. Member for Birkenhead, to enable his travel from New York to HM Prison Wandsworth.

Alistair Burt: It would not be appropriate for me to comment due to our obligations under the Data Protection Act on Mr Anditon's personal circumstances, including his eligibility for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD).
	ETDs are issued abroad to British nationals if their passport has been lost or stolen or is otherwise unavailable, and can be issued quickly when someone needs to travel urgently at short notice. Applicants must be able to verify their identity and pay the necessary fee. Consular staff carry out checks to confirm eligibility before an ETD is issued.

British Chambers of Commerce

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding has been made available for British Chambers of Commerce trade missions in each of the last five years; and how much such funding will be available in each year up to 2015.

Mark Prisk: As the national body for a network of accredited chambers of commerce across the UK, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) does not, itself, run trade missions. However individual chambers of commerce (along with a variety of other bodies such as trade associations) do run missions, some of which utilise UK Trade and Investment's Market Visit Support (MVS) facility which provides advice and financial assistance to UK based Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs). The funding is targeted at the companies rather than the mission organiser. In addition, as well as providing support for these group trade missions, companies are able to undertake solo overseas market visits. While our data does not, therefore, record the funding made available to support companies joining chambers of commerce organised trade missions, the total amount of funding made available for Market Visit Support over the past five years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2011-12 1,194,000 
			 2010-11 1,172,000 
			 2009-10 896,000 
		
	
	
		
			 2008-09 791,000 
			 2007-08 597,000 
		
	
	Financial support in future years will be subject to the necessary funding being made available, however the amount of MVS funding is likely to be broadly comparable with current allocations.
	The term “mission” might also be used to cover groups of companies, led by chambers of commerce, taking part in trade fairs and seminars under the Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP). The total amount of funding over the past five years is as follows (which is in addition to that set out above for Market Visit Support):
	
		
			  £000 
			 2011/12 556 
			 2010/11 887 
			 2009/10 751 
			 2008/09 675 
			 2007/08 833 
		
	
	Funding for future TAP events has not yet been confirmed.

British Chambers of Commerce

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many British Chambers of Commerce trade missions UK Trade and Investment has supported in each of the last 10 years.

Mark Prisk: As the national body for a network of accredited chambers of commerce across the UK the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) does not, itself, run trade missions. Individual chambers of commerce do run missions—since 2005 through UKTI's trade development facility Market Visit Support (MVS) and before that through the Department's Horizontal Outward Missions Scheme which closed in March 2005. Approximately 150 trade missions per annum were organised and run by chambers of commerce under the Horizontal Outward Missions Scheme, although precise records are no longer available.
	With the introduction of Market Visit Support in April 2005 companies are now able to visit overseas markets on an individual basis, as well as being able to take part in organised group trade missions. Support and financial assistance is directed to eligible UK based SMEs rather than the mission organisers.
	As our funding is made to companies and not to mission organisers, we do not have records of how many missions have been organised by chambers of commerce (or other bodies such as trade associations) over the last 10 years. However, Market Visit Support has provided assistance to 2199 companies taking part in organised group trade missions and visits since its establishment in April 2005.
	The term “mission” might also be used to cover groups of companies, lead by chambers of commerce, taking part in trade fairs and seminars under the Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP), and its predecessor Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad (SESA) programme. The total number of chamber of commerce lead groups supported over the past 10 years is: 459.

Science

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on reinstating the long-term plan for science.

David Willetts: The Coalition Government is committed to investing in science and innovation as part of the strategy for growth, and has made significant commitments to research and innovation funding despite difficult economic circumstances. The Government has maintained science and research programme funding of £4.6 billion pa within a ring-fence over the spending review period to provide certainty for the community. In addition, it allocated £1.9 billion research capital in December 2010, and a further £570 million since then, for investment in areas of science such as high performance computing and science campuses.
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills receives regular representations from stakeholders, including the Campaign for Science and Engineering in the UK (CaSE), about the need for long term stability in science and research funding.

Chronic Illnesses: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients had chronic medical conditions in the London borough of Bexley in the last period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people had (a) Type 1 and (b) Type 2 diabetes in the London borough of Bexley in the last period for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: Information is not available in the format requested.
	'Chronic medical conditions' is a very broad term that might apply to many different medical conditions. Information about patients with chronic medical conditions cannot be provided without further specification of the chronic conditions required.
	We cannot precisely answer as stated but we can provide the number of registered diabetes patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes present in the 2010-11 National Diabetes Audit (NDA) in Bexley Primary Care Trust.
	The following table shows how many registrations for patients of all ages from primary and secondary care with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes from the 2010-11 audit period for Bexley PCT.
	
		
			 Diabetes type Total registrations 
			 Type 1 829 
			 Type 2 9,753 
			 All diabetes 10,838 
			 Note: All diabetes includes maturity onset diabetes of the young, other specified and unspecified diabetes. Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre 
		
	
	Participation in the NDA, which audits diabetes registrations in primary and secondary care, is not mandatory. The NDA does not have 100% coverage or participation and therefore cannot accurately provide, the information required. NDA 2010-11 comprised data from 2.15 million persons with diabetes in England. The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) states there are approximately 2.46 million persons aged 17 or over with diabetes in England alone. However, QOF data is an aggregate return so does not contain the detail required to respond to this question. NDA 2010-11 comprised data from 6,774 practices in England. There are over 8,100 practices in England. Bexley PCT had 100% practice participation in the 2010-11 NDA.

Diabetes

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2012, Official Report, column 88W, on diabetes, if he will publish the minutes of the Diabetes Advisory Group meeting held on 21 June 2012.

Paul Burstow: The minutes of the first meeting of the Diabetes Advisory Group held on 21 June 2012 will be published once the Long Term Conditions Outcome Strategy and the companion document on diabetes has been published. This is anticipated to towards the end of 2012.

Dietary Supplements: EU Law

David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's policy is on the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements through the EU food supplements directive.

Anne Milton: European Union Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements, provides for the future establishment of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals used in these foods. Our view remains that any future discussions need to ensure that the legislation is proportionate and based on evidence, so that consumers have confidence in what they buy, while maintaining a wide choice of safe products.
	The European Commission has given no indication of when negotiations will commence on the drafting of rules in this area.

Ex Gratia Payments

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the monetary value of ex-gratia payments made through schemes administered by his Department in the last two years.

Simon Burns: The total value of all ex-gratia payments made in 2009-10 was £28,640,547 and in 2010-11 was £4,399,903.
	As the Department's 2011-12 year end position is not yet finalised, the answer includes information for 2009-10 and 2010-11. The Department's Resource Account for 2011-12 is due to be published in the autumn and any individual payments greater than £250,000 are included as notes to the published resource account.

General Practitioners

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs had an income before tax of (a) more than £100,000 but less than £250,000, (b) more than £250,000 but less than £500,000 and (c) more than £500,000 per year in each financial year since 1997-98.

Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally. However, the Health and Social Care Information Centre collects information on average general practitioner (GP) contractor earnings before tax, which is published at United Kingdom only level and which provides reliable estimates of the number of GP contractors earning below £100,000 per annum, between £100,000 to £250,000 and above £250,000 .per annum. The information is published as part of their GP Earnings and Expenses—time series 2002-03 to 2009-10. Summary details are contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Income before tax general and personal medical services contractors (UK) 
			  <=£100,000 £100,000 to =<£250,000 >£250,000 
			 2004-05 15,668 18,018 202 
			 2005-06 14,343 19,226 307 
			 2006-07 15,435 18,194 258 
			 2007-08 15,920 17,440 260 
			 2008-09 16,340 16,800 250 
			 2009-10 15,690 17,150 210 
		
	
	A table showing full details by available bandings has been placed in the Library. Data for all banding categories over £500,000 and all years figures prior to 2004-05 are not available.

Health Services: Older People

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role he envisages for the Nursing and Care Quality Forum in facilitating cross fertilisation of knowledge and experience between care home and hospital staff.

Anne Milton: The independent Nursing and Care Quality Forum has set out their Mission Statement. This states their aim to help all those involved in providing nursing and care to:
	“deliver the fundamental elements of good care—compassion, dignity, respect and safety—first time, every time and to everyone and achieve their ambition of providing the very highest quality of care through supporting the adoption of best practice and promoting innovation.”
	The Mission Statement also clarifies the forum's role across “all care settings”.

NHS: Drugs

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the capacity for use of unused, in-date, seal-intact drugs returned to pharmacies.

Simon Burns: The Government do not promote the reuse of medicines returned by patients in this country, as it is not possible to guarantee the quality of a returned medicine by physical inspection alone.
	This is in line with the World Health Organization's guidelines, which recommend that no drugs should be reused that have been issued to patients, and then returned to a pharmacy.

Obesity: Children

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce levels of childhood obesity.

Anne Milton: The Government published “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England” in October 2011. This sets out how obesity among children will be reduced in the new public health and national health service systems, and the role of key partners.
	The Government has set a new national ambition for reversing the trend in the level of excess weight in children by 2020. The “Call to action” sets out a number of initiatives to reduce childhood obesity: this includes the Change4Life programme, the National Child Measurement Programme, the School Games and Change4Life Sports Clubs.
	A copy of “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England” has already been placed in the Library.

Social Services

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reform the adult social care system in England.

Paul Burstow: The Government has recently published its care and support White Paper, Caring for our future, a progress report on funding reform and a draft care and support Bill. Together, these documents represent the most radical reform of the social care system since 1948.
	The White Paper, together with the draft Bill sets out how the social care system will be transformed from a service that reacts to crises to one that focuses on prevention and is built around the needs and goals of people.
	As a result of the reforms that we are undertaking, people will be confident about the quality of care and be treated with dignity and respect, everyone will know what they are entitled to and will have control over their care, and carers will have new rights to public support.
	The Draft Care and Support Bill, published alongside the White Paper, provides the legal framework needed to make the Government's vision a reality, and achieves a fundamental reform of the legislation which underpins social care. It brings together over a dozen Acts of Parliament dating back over 60 years, into a single, modern statute for care and support.
	The progress report on funding sets out the Government's agreement that the principles of the Dilnot Commission's model—financial protection through capped costs and an extended means test—would be the right basis for any new funding model for social care. It also commits to introducing a universal deferred payments scheme. The Government will consider in more detail variants under the principles of the Dilnot Commission's funding model, before coming to a final view in the next spending review.

Tobacco: Packaging

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effect of implementing plain cigarette packaging on illicit or counterfeit tobacco production.

Anne Milton: The Government has an open mind about introducing standardised tobacco packaging. On 16 April 2012, the Government published the “Consultation on Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products”. Through the consultation, we want to understand whether there is evidence to demonstrate that the standardised packaging of tobacco products would have an additional public health benefit, over and above existing tobacco control initiatives.
	Through the consultation, we are also seeking views on whether there might be legal or other implications if standardised packaging requirements were introduced.
	A consultation stage impact assessment (IA), “Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products”, has been published alongside the consultation document, which provides an initial assessment of the potential impacts of introducing standardised packaging. Interested parties are invited to provide views on this IA with supporting evidence, including any impact that standardised packaging might have on the illicit or counterfeit tobacco market.
	The consultation will be open from 16 April to 10 August 2012. Any person, business or organisation with an interest is encouraged to respond.
	A copy of the impact assessment has been placed in the Library.